Smith called his torn Achilles the toughest injury of his 15-year NFL career and hopes to be ready for the start of the regular season. "In my little world, I would love to be 100 percent and absolutely do nothing in training camp," Smith said. ... Smith tore his right Achilles tendon on Nov. 1 and missed the rest of what was supposed to be his final season in the NFL. He had surgery on Nov. 9 and announced in late December that he was delaying retirement for a year. His focus is to remain patient and not try to do too much too soon. He's trying to walk without a limp -- according to ESPN.com, during the first week of March he didn't show any signs of the injury. Assuming he is indeed ready to roll Week 1, Smith, who ranks 11th on the NFL's all-time receiving list with 13,932 yards (he could finish in the top 5 if he exceeds 1,195 yards in 2016), will provide late-round value with considerable upside in PPR formats.

Steve Smith 2015 Outlook

In his first season with the Ravens, Smith led the team with 79 catches and 1,065 receiving yards. It was the most receiving yards in a single season by a player 35 or older since Rod Smith had 1,105 yards in 2005. But Baltimore’s Smith did show signs of wearing down during the final two months of the regular season. In the first six games, Smith was the NFL’s fifth-leading receiver with 573 yards receiving. In his last nine games, he only produced 602 yards receiving, which ranked 40th in the league. Smith made an impact in the playoffs, but the Ravens hinted at reducing his playing time this season. That might be difficult. Rookie Breshad Perriman will likely start opposite Smith and the rest of the receiving corps has been nondescript. Smith is anything but -- currently standing14th on the career receiving yards list, with a chance to ascend to the top 10 if he posts another 1,000-yard season in 2015. Overlooked on draft days last year, Smith will be much higher on the fantasy radar this time around.

Steve Smith 2014 Outlook

Smith signed a three-year, $11.5 million deal with the Ravens and the former Panther wasted no time in heading to Baltimore. Smith said he immediately spoke to Joe Flacco, Ray Rice and wide receivers Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones and Marlon Brown. He was excited to learn that the Ravens had also signed tight end Owen Daniels, giving Flacco another weapon in the passing game. Smith has made it clear that he’s coming to Baltimore to be a complementary piece. “To get 1,000 yards, I don’t think it’s impossible,” Smith said. “But for me to get 1,000 yards, Torrey to get 1,000 yards and Ray Rice to get 1,000 yards and maybe Jacoby and whatever wide receivers, I think it’s doable. Obviously with [Dennis] Pitta, I say why not all of us? Be the 1,000-yard club back when they used to have those clubs. Whatever that expectation is, honestly, my job and my mindset is to exceed that. ...” Fantasy football owners shouldn’t get too excited. But if the price is right? Smith is worth watching.